Relevant to us: Note that Putin doesn't attack most Russians. He jails and murders specific types.

Namely: journalists (real ones, not state media), "disloyal" oligarchs, prominent political opposition figures, members of the intelligence and security services who speak out or defect ("traitors" from the "Deep State" ), human rights activists, and anyone in any real position to threaten or challenge him, publicly or privately.

While the above are his targets, his audience is the Russian masses. The goal is to turn even the mildest criticism into high treason, and to convince as many ordinary Russians as possible that this is the case.

This is happening in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, China, North Korea, and elsewhere. And it could very well happen here, especially under current conditions.

Both past and present history have shown that freedom is much harder to gain than to lose. Don't let any seductive myths of "American Exceptionalism" blind you to this reality. We must be clear-eyed and vigilant about what we face.

He's a US-based Saudi journalist who's been mildly critical of the regime. MBS is sending a message

to his critics at home and abroad.

It's not the ordinary Saudis who he's directly targeting. It's anyone in any position to threaten him. It's the same playbook as Putin and any other vicious autocrat - "this is what happens when you speak out against me, anywhere in the world."

For ordinary Saudis, the message is: These critics are traitors, and I am your protector against traitors. Again, same playbook as Putin and others of his ilk.

And yes, it can happen here.

From a Canadian friend: "Wow, your career paths as a rich white Republican rapist are really good."

"The Presidency, the Supreme Court, etc."

Because we don't fight for what we believe in as ruthlessly as they do.

Also, the deck is stacked against us in terms of our system of government and elections.

And then there's racism and sexism...

"Rape is about exerting power over someone else - and selecting a rapist to serve on the SC..."

"...is the Republican Party exerting power over all of us.

Brett Kavanaugh's history of sexual violence towards women is EXACTLY why he was chosen for Supreme Court by a man who himself has a similar history."

Seen online.

What happened to the "NeverTrump" Republicans?

If the US were truly a democracy, the GOP - let alone Trump - would be light years away from power.

1968: Nixon commits treason with the North Vietnamese. 1980: Reagan/Bush commit treason with Iran.

2000: Bush-Cheney get in with Jeb! Bush's help purging (mainly black) voters in Florida and a 5-4 decision by the Rehnquist Court.

9/11/2001: The Bush family's friends in Saudi Arabia help fund and facilitate the worst terrorist attack in US (if not world) history, killing 3000 Americans and others on US soil. The Bush administration covers it all up.

2016: Donald Trump gets into the Presidency with openly welcomed help from Russia and its proxies and subproxies (WikiLeaks, etc.), and likely other transnational criminals, dictators, mobsters, etc. allied with Russia. Trump's family, friends, and campaign operatives (notably Paul Manafort, but others as well - Carter Page and so on) are all deeply involved in all of this, along with Trump himself.

Notice a pattern?

A master of self-promotion - turning miserable failures and blatant fraud into TREMENDOUS SUCCESS

I have an exclusive photo of Sen. Patrick Leahy standing up to Trump and Kavanaugh.